AC MILAN v NAPOLI: THE BRIEFING

You see Napoli, and then you remember the great match in last season's Champions League. You see Napoli, and then you must not forget that AC Milan hasn't beaten them at San Siro in Serie A for a decade. Big match, strong opponent: let's approach Matchday 24 - scheduled for Sunday 11 February at 20:45 CET - within this Briefing, we will analyze the main keys of the match.

THE BEST ATTACK IS THE DEFENSE
AC Milan know they need to improve their defensive department. After Roma, a small but important crack has opened in terms of goals conceded, two each time against Udinese, Bologna, and Frosinone. However, 7 points have been earned in the mini cycle under review, a great signal in terms of the Rossoneri's attacking department, but the alarm bell remains because, simply put, it's neither fair nor reasonable to expect or aim to score so much to win. Napoli could lend a hand because they have been dry away from home since November. In such a match, keeping the goal inviolate would be even more fundamental as a starting point to not spoil the attacking plan. It's particularly a matter of the collective, positions, and spaces; to a small extent of individuals and errors to avoid, such as the one that caused the temporary 2-1 against Frosinone last weekend. It will be necessary to raise the level of attention, and team reading.

A MIDFIELD WITHOUT REIJNDERS
A necessity before a possibility. Reijnders' suspension absence will weigh heavily; so far, he has never been absent, and regardless, it will be a novelty to field a midfield without the Dutchman. Bennacer and Musah are the only candidates to accompany Adli, and the choice will change a lot: Ismaël would be open to the attractive, albeit not oiled, solution of the double pivot; Yunus would guarantee fewer metamorphoses due to characteristics. It will depend on what the Rossoneri want to favour, in possession and in general to face an opponent's three-man line of both brains (Lobotka) and muscles (Anguissa-Cajuste), who risk having numerical superiority if Loftus-Cheek does not provide valuable support. Bennacer, i.e., more technicality and passing, or Musah, i.e., more movement and aggression: attitude and performance will determine the battle in midfield.

LEÃO v KVARA, BUT ALSO CALABRIA v DI LORENZO
It's always Leão against Kvaratskhelia. A formidable (remote) duel, the players with the most beautiful and impactful moves in their baggage to influence and decide. Same position, left-wing, different ways of interpreting the flank: the Portuguese in speed, the Georgian in dribbling. Both are under the spotlight and both, truth be told, protagonists of a season with ups and downs: flashes yes, but consistency in fits and starts. Six goals in almost thirty appearances each, a not negative but subpar haul considering their potential. A large slice of the contest will depend on their performance. Within this, the respective markers must be added, namely full-backs Calabria and Di Lorenzo, who will have demanding work to do. Coverage, challenges, and even doubling up, were essential in the 2022/23 matches where the Rossoneri were impeccable in asserting supremacy.

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